Motor vehicle



April '23 1935. H, w. ALDEN 1,999,071

MOTOR VEHICLE Filed Oct. 7, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l H. W. ALDEN MOTOR VEHICLE April 23, 1935.

Filed Oct. 7, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 //V VENTOH: 4 MW April 23, 1935.v H. w ALDEN 1,999,071

MOTOR VEHICLE File t. 7, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 29 Z5 Z6 25 6 I j MA/Nl ENTOEZ April 23, 1935. H. w'. ALDEN 1,999,071

MOTOR VEHICLE Filed Oct. '7, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 HA5 #7 T Top/-15 Y5.

atented Apr. 23, 1935 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOTOR VEHICLE Herbert W. Alden, Detroit, Mich., assignor to The Timken-Detroit Axle Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Ohio Application October 7, 1931, Serial No. 567,358

6 Claims. (Cl. 18022) This invention relates to motor vehicles .of the A and one rear or final drive axle B. Each of said type having dual driving axle units comprising driving axles comprises aload supporting housing two differential driving axles that are diiferenhaving tubular end portions l adapted to receive tially driven by means of athird differential drivthe respective axle shaft sections 2 and an en- 5 ing mechanism. One of the principal objects of larged bowl or pot-shaped middle portion 3, form- 5 the present invention is to provide for compactly ing a chamber adapted to receive a differential housing such third differential driving mechanism driving mechanism C through an opening provided in the removable gear carrier of one of the diftherefor in the top of said chamber. Gear carferential driving axles in line with the sectional riers D and E are removably secured to the tops in propeller shaft for driving both axles. Another of the bowl-shaped middle portions 3 of the axle object is to provide a substantially straight prohousings of the driving axles A and B, respectivepeller shaft for said axles, thereby decreasing the ly, and enclose and support the differential mechworking angle of the universal joints thereof. anism C and the driving mechanism associated Other objects are to provide proper bearings for therewith, the gear carriers closing the openings said differential mechanism and the shafting asin the tops of the bowl-shaped portions of said 15 sociated therewith, to provide for the ready rehousings. moval and replacement of said differential and The differential driving mechanism C for each the shafting, and to provide for simplicity and driving axle is enclosed within a casing 4 proeconomy of construction and fewness of parts. vided with axially alined hubs 5 that are adapted 2c The invention consists in the construction, comto loosely receive the inner ends of the axially 2o binations and arrangements of parts hereinafter alinedaxle shaft sections 2. The gear carrier described and claimed. for each driving axle has split journal boxes 6 In the accompanying drawings, which form part depending therefrom in which are seated suitof this specification and wherein like symbols reable antifriction bearings I adapted to receive fer to like parts wherever they occur, and rotatably support the hubs 5 of the diiferene 25 Fig. 1 is a plan view of the middle portion of a tial casing 4, whereby said differential casing, todual differential driving axle unit embodying my gether .with the differential driving mechanism invention, enclosed therein, is removable with said carrier 'Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through asa unit from the axle housing. Each differenthe middle portion of the rear or final drive axle tial casing 4 is provided with a worm gear 8 that 30 on the line 2--2 in Fig. 1, is driven by a worm 9 located thereabove in the Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the front carrier for said casing. The differential mechor through drive axle on the line 3-3 in Fig. 5, anism enclosed within each difierential gear cas- Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through ing 4 of each axle preferably comprises two opthe front or through drive axle on the line 4-4 in posed bevel side gears II), which are splined on 35 Fig. 1, the adjacent inner ends of the axle shaft see- Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through tions 2 of the axle and have hubs II that extend said front or through drive axle on the line 5-5 towards each other and are journaled in a bearing in. Fig. 1, l2 provided therefor ina spider l3. This spider lo Fig. 6 is a plan view'similar to Fig. 1, showing has radially extending stub shafts l4 that rotate 40 a double reduction dual differential driving axle with the gear casing 4 and rotatably support bevel unit, pinions l5 that intermesh with the side gears l0 Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the front on the axle shaft sections 2. or through drive axle on the line in Fig. 8, The worms 9 of the two driving axles are differ- M Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal section through entially driven by means of a sectional main drive said front or through drive axle on the line 8-8 or propeller shaft F that extends substantially in Fig. 6; and straight from axle to axle parallel to and sub- Fig. 9 is a. fragmentary plan view of the middle stantially in the horizontal plane of said worms. portion of the rear or final drive axle, the upper The sectional main drive or propeller shaft F W portion of the gear carrier shown in horizontal comprises four sections l6, l1, l6 and IS, the forsection. ward sections 16 and I I being mounted on the The dual differential driving axle unit shown front or through drive axle A, the rear section in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, of the accompanying l9 being mounted on the rear or final drive axle drawings comprises two worm drive difierential B, and the propeller shaft section I8 extending be driving axles, one forward or through drive axle from axle to axle having universal joint connections 2!] at its opposite ends with the adjacent ends of the sections i1 and I9, respectively. The rear propeller shaft section I9 is mounted in the rear axle gear carrier E substantially midway of the ends of the rear axle housing; and the front axle gear carrier D is offset with respect to the transverse center line of the front axle housing to bring the propeller shaft sections IB and l! substantially in line with said rear propeller shaft section. The drive worm 9 for the front axle A is preferably formed integral with a shaft 2| supported in suitable bearings 22 provided therefor in a housing 23 in the top of the "gear carrier D for said front axle, said housing also being adapted to receive the forward propeller shaft sections it and I1 that are located alongside of the worm shaft 2|. The drive worm 9 for the rear axle B is formed integral withthe rear propeller shaft section l9, which is Jour naled in suitable bearings (not shown) in a housing 24 provided therefor on top of the differential gear carrier E of said rear axle.

The forward propeller shaft-section I5 is adapted to be connected with the usual change speed transmission gearing (not shown) of the motor vehicle to be driven thereby. The forward section i6 of the propeller shaft F is operatively connected to the section I! thereof by means of an additional or third differential mechanism G that is enclosed within a split casing 25, onehalf of which is formed integral with the rearward end of the propeller shaft section i6, and the other half of which is bolted to said first mentioned half. The differential mechanism G enclosed within the casing 25 comprises two opposed bevel side gears 26 and 21, the side gear 26 having its hub portion s'plined on the section I! of the propeller shaft F for rotation therewith and the side gear 21 having its hub portion journaled on said section for rotation relative thereto. The hub of the side gear 26 is rotatably supported in a bearing provided therefor in the hub of a spider 28, which is disposed between the two bevel side gears 26 and 21 and has radially ex-' tending stub shafts 29 that are anchored to the gear casing 25 and have bevel pinions 30 Journaled thereon that intermesh with and are driven by said bevel side gears. The driving connection between the third differential mechanism G and the worm drive shaft 2| for the forward axle A comprises a spur gear 3|, which is fixed to the hub of the bevel side gear 21 of said diiferential and intermeshes with a spur gear 32 fixed to the forward end of said worm drive shaft. The housing 23 of the gear carrier D for the front driving axle A contains the propeller shaf sections l6 and If, the third differential mechanism G, the worm drive shaft 2i and the gearing for operatively connecting said differential'mechanism and said worm drive shaft; and said housing is provided at its rear end with an opening through which all of these parts may be inserted in and removed from said carrier housing. This opening is closed by means of a cover plate 33 having suitable bearings 34 therein for rotatably supporting the rear end portion of the propeller shaft section H. The propellershaft section "5 is rotatably supported adjacent to its opposite ends by suitable bearings 35 seated in the housing 23. The housing 23 is also provided at its front end with openings adapted to accommodate the propeller shaft section l6 and the worm drive shaft 2! and the bearings therefor, which'openings are closed by closure members 36 and 31, respectively.

Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, illustrate a double reduction dual driving axle unit wherein the differential gear case 4a of each axle is provided with a spur gear ring 8a that is driven by a spur pinion Illa. on a shaft 38 having a bevel gear 39 thereon that is driven by a bevel pinion 40. The removable gear carrier D of the forward differential driving axle A is provided with a housing 23a within which is mounted the double reduction gearing just described, the two forward sections 16a and Ila of the sectional propeller shaft F and the additional or third differential mechanism G for driving said sections. The construction and mounting of the two propeller shaft sections lBa' and 11a and the diiferential mechanism G for driving them are substantially the same as the construction and mounting of the propeller shaft sections l6 and I1 and differential mechanism G mounted in the single reduction front driving axle A hereinbefore described. As shown in Figs. '7 and 8, the two propeller shaft sections Ito and [1a and the driving mechanism therefor are located in the housing 23a of the front axle gear carrier D' alongside and substantially in the horizontal plane of a horizontal drive shaft 2|a which has the bevel pinion 40 thereon and is journaled in suitable bearings 22a provided therefor in said housing. This drive shaft 2| a is driven from the side gear 21a of the differential G by means of a spur gear Sla which is fixed to the hub of said side gear and drives with a spur gear 320. fixed to the forward end of said drive shaft. The shaft 38 having the bevel gear 39 and spur pinion Illa thereon is rotatably supported near each end in suitable bear-- ings 4| seated in the housing 23a of the gear carrier D. The rear section 19a of the sectional propeller shaft F is mounted in the gear carrier E of the rear axle B and has the bevel pinion 40 of the double reduction gearing of said axle fixed thereon. As shown in Fig. 6, the gear carriers of the two double reduction axles are offset with respect to the transverse center lines thereof in order to bring the sections of the propeller shaft F in substantial alinement.

By the arrangements described, the power delivered from the engine to the forward section oi the sectional propeller shaft is transmitted to the third differential mechanism in the gear carrier of the forward axle, which mechanism serves to differentially-drive the differential mechanisms of the two axles, thereby equalizing the driving, starting, stopping and braking torque on said axles and permitting the brakes on the wheels thereof to be adjusted independently of each other. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the drive from the third differential is through the intermeshing spur gears 3| and 22 to the worm shaft-2| to the forward axle differential and through the propeller shaft sections l1, l8 and I9 to the rear axle differential. In the double reduction driving axle unit shown in Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, the drive from the third differential is through the intermeshing spur ears 3la and 32a to the shaft Ma and thence through the double reduction gearing to the forward axle differential, and through the propeller shaft sections Ila, 18a and Ma and thence through the double reduction gearing of the rear axle tc'the differential thereof.

It is noted as an important advantage of my invention that it provides a substantially straight through drive between the two axles for differentially driving them, thereby decreasing the working angle of the universal Joints of the sectional propeller shaft. It also locates the propeller shaft in the horizontal plane of the main drive gear for each axle differential, thereby providing a maximum vertical clearance between the driving axles and the chassis of the vehicle. It is also noted that in both constructions the third differential and the shafting associated therewith are compactly housed within the gear carrier and are either removable therewith as a unit or separately therefrom.

Obviously. the hereinbefore described arrangements admit of considerable modification without departing from the invention. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. In an axle assembly, an axle housing, a pair of alined, horizontally disposed axles mounted for rotation in said axle housing and having a differential mechanism operably associated therewith; a worm gear concentrically disposed with respect to said axles and adapted to apply rotative efforts to said differential mechanism, a worm shaft mounted for rotation in said housing and disposed transversely with respect to said axles, a worm mounted on said worm shaft and meshing with said worm gear, a driving propeller shaft and a driven propeller shaft disposed in axial alinement and mounted for rotation in said housing, said driving and driven propeller shafts extending outwardly of said housing through apertures located in opposite sides thereof and adapted to have power applied thereto and taken therefrom respectively, the axis of said worm shaft being spaced from the axes of said driving and driven propeller shafts, and means for transmitting power from said driving propeller shaft to said driven propeller shaft and to said worm shaft, said propeller shafts and said means being substantially entirely included between a pair of parallel vertical planes which are parallel to said axles and which are tangentially disposed with respect to the outer periphery of said worm gear.

2. The axle construction described in claim 1, wherein said drivingand driven propeller shafts are disposed parallel to said worm shaft.

3. The axle construction set forth in claim 1, wherein said last named means comprises a differential mechanism operably coupled to said driving and driven propeller shafts and to said worm shaft.

4. The axle construction, set forth in claim 1, wherein said worm shaft is disposed in side-byside relation to said propeller shafts and lie in substantially the same horizontal plane.

5. In an axle constructioman axle housing, a pair of axially alined and horizontally disposed axles mounted for rotation in said housing, means, including a ring-like gear for imparting rotational efforts to said axles, a. pair of axially alined propeller shafts rotatably mounted in said housing, said propeller shafts extending through apertures located in opposite sides of said housing and adapted to have power transmitted thereto and taken therefrom, and means, comprising a differential mechanism, for transmitting power from one of said propeller shafts to said other propeller shaft and to said gear, said propeller shafts and said differential mechanism being substantially entirely included between a pair of parallel vertical planes which are parallel to said axles and which are tangentially disposed with respect to the outer periphery of said ringlike gear, whereby rotative tendencies of said housing in response to vertical impulses imparted thereto by road shocks are reduced to a minimum.

6. In an axle construction, an axle housing, a pair of aligned, horizontally disposed axles mounted for rotation in said axle housing, means, including a worm gear, for driving said axles, said worm gear being concentrically disposed with respect to said axles, an auxiliary housing secured to said axle housing and having an opening therein through which said worm gear projects, the meeting faces of said axle housing and said auxiliary housing being disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, a substantially horizontally disposed worm gear shaft mounted for rotation in said auxiliary housing and having a worm thereon meshing with said worm gear, a

pair of aligned propeller shafts mounted for rotation in said auxiliary housing and disposed substantially parallel to said worm gear shaft and disposed in a plane which is closely adjacent a horizontal plane containing said worm gear shaft, said propeller shafts respectively extending through apertures in opposite sides of said auxiliary housing, and means for transmitting power from one of said propeller shafts to said other propeller shaft and to said worm shaft, comprising a differential mechanism operably connected to one of said propeller shafts and so disposed in said auxiliary housing as to be intersected by a plane containing said axles and at least a portion of said worm.

HERBERT W. ALDEN. 

